By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Individuals with special needs will experience a full slate of activities during the upcoming Champions Camp, Sept. 11-13, hosted by Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. The camp will match participants with buddies who will accompany them throughout the weekend. The camp will feature games, activities, crafts, karaoke, worship and Bible study designed for children and adults, ages 8 and up, who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Champions Camp began with 20 participants in 2018 and surged to 55 campers in 2024. In 2025 that number nearly doubled to 100 and already, there are 80 registrants for 2026 with expectations that it will surpass last year’s total. Camp Director David Anderson, who also serves as the Louisiana Baptist children’s ministry strategist, had always dreamed of bringing the camp to Louisiana so people with special needs like his daughter, Chloe, could have a chance to experience camp like so many others. Anderson has been blessed to see the camp grow and to further fulfill his goal of expanding opportunities for individuals with special needs to experience spiritual enrichment at events hosted just … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ST. GABRIEL, La. (LBM) – This fall, Louisiana Baptists will have multiple opportu­nities to provide inmates of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women with hygiene boxes that meet physical needs but often lead to spiritual decisions. Churches are invited to participate in a gift box packing day, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. -1 p.m., in the Granberry Conference Center on the campus of Louisiana Chris­tian University, Pineville. Al­ternatively, they may donate, prior to and on Sept. 25, complete gift sets containing items from an approved list provided by the Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry office. Volunteers will distrib­ute the boxes on Oct. 15, and LBWMM leaders are praying that 1,000 boxes are packed. “The boxes are a remind­er to the women that they are not forgotten and they are cared for,” Christine Gill, LBWMM strategist, told the Baptist Message. “Those who go into the prison are work­ing together to help bring light to a dark place.” The effort began in 2006, when Louisiana Baptists learned that LCIW inmates were needing additional hygiene supplies. Last year, a record 1,000 boxes were donated, surpassing the 2024 mark of 700. “The thing that … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer RUSTON, La. (LBM) – Nearly 700 small group leaders and pastors, collec­tively, were encouraged to strengthen their disciple­ship efforts during recent multiple ReGroup events. ReGroup South, host­ed Aug. 1 by First Baptist Church, Lafayette, drew 415 attendees. Meanwhile, ReGroup North, hosted Aug. 8 by Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, had 272 participants. Reggie Bridges, pas­tor with Temple Baptist, Ruston, was the keynote speaker for both events. Leading worship were Crescent City Worship, a worship team with New Orleans Baptist Theolog­ical Seminary (ReGroup South), and Firm Founda­tion, a worship band from Ruston (ReGroup North). The conferences fea­tured age-graded breakout sessions for leaders in the areas of worship, adults, young adults, college, youth, children, preschool, men and women. Louisiana Baptists’ evangelism and church growth team also offered a drawing at each location for a marriage disciple­ship retreat at WinShape in Rome, Georgia. Scott Beardsley, pastor with East Ridge Baptist Church, Lake Charles (ReGroup South), and Brent Shoalmire, pastor of discipleship and administration with First Baptist Church, Natchi­toches (ReGroup North), were the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MANAUS, Brazil (LBM) – During a mission trip to a city located in the cen­ter of the Amazon rainforest, Louisiana Baptists experienced a Gospel harvest of 647 Brazilians. “The theme for this year was ‘Hope for Manaus,’” David Denton, senior pastor with Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia, told the Baptist Message. “We partnered with local churches to help them fulfill the Great Commission in their vicinity. Much like Louisiana, Manaus was hot with high humid­ity. We sweated a lot but had great Gospel conversations.” GOSPEL HARVEST Fifty members of Beyond the Walls, a Louisiana Baptist-led mis­sion team from Louisiana, Texas and Utah ministered, July 10-21 in Manaus, known as the “Heart of the Amazon.”. While there, they split into 12 ministry teams and participated in personal visits, drama minis­try, construction, street ministry, Vacation Bible School, medical ministry and compassion ministry that included distribution of food baskets – each as a bridge to Gos­pel conversations. IN THEIR WORDS Among those Denton saw come to Christ was Jonathan, a recov­ering drug addict he met during a visit to a local park. During the ­ the conversation, Denton shared the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – More than 2.4 million Louisianians do not know Christ, but thanks to Louisiana Baptists’ gen­erous gifts to the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Mis­sions Offering, life-chang­ing ministry is possible around the state through church plants, compassion ministries, disaster relief efforts, church construc­tion scholarships and media outreach. This year, Louisiana Baptists are asked to pray about what they might contribute to this offering which has a 2026 goal of $1.8 million. This amount will supplement the financial sup­port for statewide ministries given through the Cooper­ative Program, the primary funding channel for state and national Baptist causes. Named for the first elect­ed and salaried executive director of the Woman’s Mis­sionary Union in Louisiana, the offering will be promoted throughout September via a video for each Sunday of the month plus print and elec­tronic articles. This year’s four featured stories show how the state special offering strength­ens missions through­out the state: -- “Gift boxes” tells how hygiene products show inmates of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women that they are loved by God; -- “Vietnamese … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your in­formation four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Jamie Pullin was ordained ,July 26, into the Gospel Ministry as he begins his first pastorate at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Bastrop. Scott, wife Zandra, Gray is the pastor at First Baptist Church, Pitkin. Wilton McMorris is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Livingston. Jerod, wife Jessica, Gann is the new pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Frank (wife Ann) Valenzano is the new associate pastor of discipleship and missions at Cedar Crest Baptist Church, West Monroe. Jamie, wife Kristin is the new pas­tor at Oak Hill Baptist Church, Bastrop. Tracy (husband Robert) Satterfield is the new director of children’s min­istries in Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Brett and Erin Tooley join New Chapel Hill Baptist Church, West Mon­roe … [Read more...]

By Stacey Tinsley, Special to the Baptist Message HAUGHTON, La. (LBM) — The ministries performed by First Baptist Church, Haughton, May 2, were more than acts of community service — they were clear reflections of the Gospel lived out in real and tangible ways. Members of the con­gregation, joined by volun­teers from across the com­munity, stepped beyond the walls of the church and into the streets of Haugh­ton for the church’s annual Serve Day. Their mission was simple yet deeply rooted in Scripture: to serve others as the hands and feet of Christ. Throughout the day, volunteers spread across neighborhoods picking up roadside trash, clearing de­bris and assisting residents with large item removal. Organized truck and trail­er teams worked diligent­ly, while others served in quieter but equally mean­ingful ways — walking through neighborhoods in prayer or remaining on campus to intercede on behalf of the community. For First Baptist Church Haughton Senior Pastor Gevan Spinney, the day reflected a calling that has defined the church for generations. “We feel a big obli­gation as the church to Haughton and the com­munity,” Spinney said. “I believe God planted this church here in 1885 to be a lighthouse in this town. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Brad Gill has taken on a new role: dual director of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry with Louisiana Christian University and Louisiana State University of Alex­andria. Gill, who has served as director of the LCU (formerly Louisiana Col­lege) BCM since January 2022, said he is excited about the opportunity to reach and disciple more students at both campus­es in his expanded role with what is now known as the Central Louisiana BCM. “Each campus is unique,” Gill told the Baptist Message. “Both institutions strength­en our community, and BCM adds value to our campuses through week­ly free lunches, worship, Bible studies and small groups. “The won­derful thing is that leader­ship wants us there,” he con­tinued. “Dr. Mark Johnson with LCU and Dr. Elizabeth Beard with LSUA want the best for their students. They want them to grow in their faith.” Gill said the move was sparked by personnel moves within the state. “When Austin Mc­Curry (former LSUA BCM director) went to Northwestern State after Bill Collins retired as BCM director, we had an opportunity to unify our ministry efforts in the area,” he said. “Hopefully college stu­dents in cen­tral … [Read more...]